BATHURST — Biosecurity officials seized more than 100,000 live exotic cockroaches from a commercial breeder in Bathurst, New South Wales. This seizure is the largest documented seizure of illegal exotic invertebrates in Australia.
The seized insects included dubia cockroaches and Madagascar hissing cockroaches. These species cannot be legally imported into Australia, and Madagascar hissing cockroaches are recognized as one of the world's largest cockroach species. Exotic cockroaches have not undergone an environmental risk assessment in Australia, and unassessed exotic cockroaches can spread disease and harm native wildlife and agriculture.
The seized cockroaches were likely intended for the pet trade, including use as food for captive reptiles. Dubia cockroaches are commonly used as food for captive reptiles, frogs, and some fish. The seized cockroaches have a commercial value of up to $200,000. Australia has more than 500 described native cockroach species.
A spokesperson for the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water said: "We take our job protecting Australia's unique biodiversity and breaches of national environment law very seriously. We're seeing illegal breeding and trading of exotic cockroaches and we're putting pet businesses and pet owners on notice. If you are found to possess, breed or trade exotic cockroaches such as dubia cockroaches and Madagascar hissing cockroaches they will be seized and you could face penalties under federal law." The spokesperson also said: "Reptile owners who have been using dubia roaches as feeders are encouraged to seek legal alternatives such as crickets and wood roaches."
The policy director at the Invasive Species Council, Dr. Carol Booth, said: "It represents a massive biosecurity risk – not just because these foreign cockroaches could establish in the wild and threaten native cockroaches and other insects, but because they could introduce new diseases." Booth said: "This is one example of a much bigger problem in Australia of illegal sale and keeping of exotic wildlife, including exotic snakes and other reptiles." Booth said: "Unfortunately, there is a growing global trend in keeping exotic invertebrates as pets, including invasive ant species. Biosecurity authorities should pay close attention to this emerging new pathway."
Booth stated that the scale of illegal breeding in Bathurst indicates a larger black market for illegal wildlife in Australia. She stated that most crimes involving illegal wildlife currently attract low penalties in the Australian legal system and that government departments require additional resources to investigate the illegal exotic wildlife trade. The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is managing the euthanasia and disposal of the seized cockroaches.